Frankie Goes to Hollywood movie biopic announced and lead actor revealed
The 80s pop icons are set to hit the big screen
Last updated 10th May 2023
Just three days after Frankie Goes to Hollywood reunited for the first time in 36 years, it’s been confirmed that a movie biopic about the 80s pop icons is in the works.
Titled Relax after the band’s breakthrough single of the same name, the film is based on frontman Holly Johnson’s 1994 autobiography A Bone in My Flute.
24-year-old Welsh actor Callum Scott Howells, who’s best known for playing Colin in acclaimed Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin, will play Holly Johnson in Relax. Howells says he’s “excited and honoured” to be starring in the movie.
The film was written and will be helmed by English director Bernard Rose, who created the infamous ‘Relax’ video back in 1983. Rose’s other credits include horror classics Paperhouse and Candyman, and in 2010 he made the Howard Marks biopic Mr Nice.
In the 80s, Rose also created Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Welcome to the Pleasuredome’ video together with Bronski Beat’s ‘Smalltown Boy’ and UB40’s cover of ‘Red Red Wine.’
Bernard Rose commented: “Combining the wit of the Beatles, the power of The Rolling Stones and the outrage of The Sex Pistols, Frankie Goes To Hollywood went from unemployed Liverpudlians to Kings of pop on the back of their epic banned record Relax.
“In 1984 they outsold Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Duran Duran. Their epic rise, bringing the then deeply underground S+M and LGBTQ club scene screaming into the limelight, is the energetic and moving story of underdogs that win one for the ages.
“I was very much a part of the hoopla, having directed the original ‘banned’ Relax video and I want to bring that innocent and daring world of 1984 back to life for a new audience today…”
Bridget Jones, Les Miserables and Billy Elliot producer Working Title is behind the movie.
Tim Bevan, Co-Chairperson of Working Title, said: “Working Title is always looking to champion British stories and so the opportunity to shine a light on Frankie Goes To Hollywood, a British band who truly revolutionised the UK music industry, was a natural fit for us.
“Working under the direction of Bernard Rose, the project will star exciting young talent, Callum Scott Howells in the lead, and Independent Entertainment as partner. We can’t wait to get started.”
Frankie Goes to Hollywood performed ‘Welcome to the Pleasuredome’ at the Eurovision Song Contest opening party outside St George’s Hall in Liverpool on Sunday night (7th May).
The following day, Holly Johnson announced two headline UK shows at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Saturday 21st October and The London Palladium on Friday 27th October.
The concerts celebrate the 40th anniversary of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Relax’ and the upcoming 35th anniversary of Holly Johnson’s chart-topping solo album ‘Blast.’
Tickets go on sale from Absolute Radio Tickets at 10am on Friday 12th May.
29 bands named after real people, including Frankie Goes To Hollywood:
Pink Floyd
Rock legends Pink Floyd took their moniker from the given names of two Piedmont blues artists that Syd Barrett had in his record collection, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.
Pink Floyd - Pink Anderson and Floyd Council
Photos of Pink Anderson and Floyd Council at the Pink Floyd exhibition Their Mortal Remains at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2017.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd are named after high school gym teacher Leonard Skinner who taught Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, and Bob Burns at Robert E. Lee High School in Florida in the 1960s. Skinner was reportedly notorious for enforcing the school's policy against boys having long hair, and the Lynyrd Skynyrd band name was seen as an act of rebellion against him.
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Leonard Skinner
A high school yearbook photos of Leonard Skinner in 1969. He died in 2010 aged 77.
The Yardbirds
The influential British band's name was partially inspired by the nickname of American jazz saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker. It's also the name given to rail yard hobos in Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel On the Road.
The Yardbirds - Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker
Jazz musician Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker in 1955 – the year of his death aged just 34.
Ramones
New York punk trailblazers Ramones were named by Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glenn Colvin) after Paul McCartney's briefly adopted pseudonym Paul Ramon in his Silver Beetles days in 1960.
Ramones - Paul Ramon with The Silver Beetles
Paul McCartney (aka Paul Ramon) performs with The Silver Beetles in 1960. John Lennon and George Harrison were also in the group.
The Hollies
The Hollies' co-founder Graham Nash revealed in a 2009 interview that they coined their band just moments before they were due to step on stage at the Oasis Club in Manchester in December 1962. The name comes from their admiration for Buddy Holly.
The Hollies - Buddy Holly
Rock legend Buddy Holly in the late 1950s who inspired The Hollies band name. He died aged just 22 in the 3rd February 1959 plane crash that also claimed the lives of Ritchie Valens, "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson and their pilot Roger Peterson. It was later known as 'The Day the Music Died.'
Tesla
Previously called City Kidd, the Sacramento rockers renamed themselves Tesla in homage to inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla during the recording of their debut album 'Mechanical Resonance' in 1986. Some of the band's song and album titles nod towards Nikola Tesla too.
Tesla - Nikola Tesla
An 1890 photo of 34-year-old inventor Nikola Tesla. He lived until he was 84 and was famously portrayed by David Bowie in the 2006 movie The Prestige.
Jethro Tull
With Ian Anderson struggling to settle on a name for his band in the late 1960s (names included Navy Blue, Ian Henderson's Bag o' Nails, and Candy Coloured Rain), a member of the band's booking agent's staff christened them Jethro Tull after the 18th-century agriculturist.
Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull, who helped to bring about the British Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later developed a horse-drawn hoe. What a guy!
Creedence Clearwater Revival
In 1967 the band toyed with renaming themselves Muddy Rabbit, Gossamer Wump, and Creedence Nuball and the Ruby, however they settled on Creedence Clearwater Revival with the 'Creedence' a nod towards guitarist Tom Fogerty's friend Credence Newball.
Crazy Horse
Formerly known as The Rockets, the American band became known as Crazy Horse in 1969 when they first teamed up with Neil Young. The band was named after the 19th Century Sioux Tribe leader Crazy Horse.
Crazy Horse
The Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Work began on the sculpture in 1948 and it's still unfinished.
ZZ Top
Billy Gibbons took direct inspiration from blues artists BB King and ZZ Hill as he liked the way the initials sounded in their stage names. He was initially going to call his band ZZ King but became concerned it sounded to similar to the original artist. Gibbons ultimately settled on ZZ Top as he remarked the "king is at the top."
ZZ Top - BB King and ZZ Hill
Late blues icons BB King and ZZ Hill.
Greta Van Fleet
The retrogressive rockers are named after a bluegrass musician called Gretna VanFleet, who hails from their home town of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Although Greta Van Fleet didn't initially ask her for permission, the 93-year-old subsequently gave them her blessing.
Molly Hatchet
Just like their fellow Jacksonville rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet were named after a real person. Molly Hatchet's moniker is more steeped in history, however, as they're named after an infamous 17th-century axe murderess dubbed 'hatchet molly'.
Kasabian
Leicester indie rockers Kasabian take their name from Linda Kasabian who was a member of Charles Manson's cult, the Manson Family, in the late 1960s and 1970s. Linda Kasabian was present at both the Tate and LaBianca murders committed by the cult in 1969, but received immunity for her testimony as a key witness in the trial of Manson.
Kasabia - Linda Kasabian
Linda Kasabian at a press conference in 1970. She passed away on 21st January 2023 aged 73.
Mookie Blaylock (Pearl Jam)
Huge fans of the New York Jets basketball player Mookie Blaylock, the Seattle rockers decided to name their band in his honour. After playing a series of shows as Mookie Blaylock, they renamed themselves Pearl Jam in October '90 after signing to Epic Records.
Mookie Blaylock (Pearl Jam) - Mookie Blaylock
Basketball player Mookie Blaylock when he played for Golden State Warriors
Franz Ferdinand
Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand are named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria whose assassination in Sarajevo in June 1914 sparked World War I.
Franz Ferdinand - Archduke Franz Ferdinand
A portrait of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
Dead Kennedys
The politicised punk rockers' somewhat controversial name references the deceased members of the Kennedy family, including the assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Guitarist East Bay Ray said they weren't trying to insult the Kennedys. "The assassinations were in much more poor taste than our band," he argued. "We actually respect the Kennedy family. When JFK was assassinated, when Martin Luther King was assassinated, when RFK was assassinated, the American Dream was assassinated. Our name is actually homage to the American Dream."
Dead Kennedys - John F Kennedy
The 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in November 1963.
Kings of Leon
The three Followill brothers (Caleb, Jared and Nathan) and their cousin Matthew named Kings of Leon after their grandfather Leon Followill, who died in January 2014.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Founder and leader Anton Newcombe named his band after late-great Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones and the 1978 Jonestown Massacre.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Brian Jones
Late-great Rolling Stones guitarist, founder and original leader Brian Jones in 1964.
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World indirectly take their moniker from guitarist Tom Linton's brother Jim. He explained in 1999: "My brother Jim beat up my younger brother Ed, and Jim ran into his room and locked his door, and Ed drew this picture that said 'Jimmy Eat World', and it was a picture of him eating the world. My brother Jim is kind of a big guy. A stupid name."
The Dandy Warhols
The Oregon alt-rockers' name is a play on the name of revered American pop artist Andy Warhol.
The Dandy Warhols - Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an artist and experimental filmmaker and one of the founders of the Pop Art movement.
Melvins
Melvins are named after a man called Melvin who was frontman Buzz Osborne's supervisor when he worked at a supermarket in Montesano, Washington. The real Melvin was widely disliked by staff and Osborne thought it would be a gloriously ridiculous name for his band.
James Gang
James Gang are named after the 19th-century gang of American outlaws led by Jesse James. The band's final album 'Jesse Comes Home' references Jesse James and the artwork features a painting of the folk hero riding off into the sunset.
James Gang - Jesse James
Jesse James (5th September 1847 to 3rd April 1882) was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang.
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Morris Plains metalcore merchants The Dillinger Escape Plan were christened by their friend Matt Makowski after he watched a documentary about 1930s bank robber John Dillinger, who made multiple escapes from jail.
The Dillinger Escape Plan - John Dillinger
Bank robber John Herbert Dillinger in a colourised photo from 1933. He was shot dead while running from police the following year aged just 31.
Hootie and the Blowfish
In 1986, American soft rockers Hootie and the Blowfish named themselves after the nicknames of two friends from college – 'Hootie' was Ervin Harris, and 'Blowfish' was Donald Feaster. ·
Van Der Graaf Generator
A few months after the death of pioneering American physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff in January 1967, Chris Judge Smith paid homage by christening his and Peter Hammill's newly formed band Van Der Graaf Generator after the scientist's famous high-voltage generators.
Van Der Graaf Generator - Robert J. Van de Graaff
Robert J. Van de Graaff with a spherical atom-bursting terminal in 1933.
Jane’s Addiction
Jane's Addiction's name honours Perry Farrell's housemate, Jane Bainter, who was their muse and inspiration. Farrell's then girlfriend Casey Niccoli initially suggested the name 'Jane's Heroin Experience' but Farrell decided to tweak the idea.
Dropkick Murphys
The American Celtic punk band are named after professional wrestler and sanatorium owner John 'Dropkick' Murphy, who died age 66 in 1977.
The Marshall Tucker Band
South Carolina rockers The Marshall Tucker Band are named after a blind piano tuner from Columbia, South Carolina. While rehearsing in a warehouse in their embryonic days, the fledgling band saw the name 'Marshall Tucker' inscribed on a key. They dubbed themselves The Marshall Tucker Band and later discovered the real Marshall Tucker had previously hired the rehearsal space. Marshall Tucker died in January 2023 at the ripe old age of 99.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Liverpool 80s pop icons Frankie Goes to Hollywood take their indirectly name from legendary crooner Frank Sinatra. The moniker is lifted from the words 'Frankie goes to Hollywood' on a 1940s billboard poster announcing a Frank Sinatra movie.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Ol' Blue Eyes himself Frank Sinatra in 1945.